Begonia plant named ‘BBDRASUN’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘BBDRASUN’, characterized by its upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; numerous double flowers that are yellow and pink in color; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Begonia×hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BBDRASUN’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Begonia Plant Named ‘BBDRASOPI’

(U.S. Plant patent application No. 12/807,247)

Title: Begonia Plant Named ‘BBDRAWHIBLU’

(U.S. Plant patent application No. 12/807,246)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially known asElatior Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BBDRASUN’.

The new Begonia plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation ofthe Begonia×hiemalis cultivar BBDRA, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.19,700. The new Begonia was discovered and selected by the Inventor fromwithin a population of plants of ‘BBDRA’ in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands during the spring of 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by terminal cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, the Netherlands sincethe autumn of 2007, has shown that the unique features of this newBegonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in cultural practices and environment conditions such astemperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BBDRASUN’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BBDRASUN’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Numerous double flowers that are yellow and pink in color.    -   4. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the parent,‘BBDRA’, primarily in flower color as plants of ‘BBDRA’ have lightred-colored flowers. In addition, flower of plants of ‘BBDRA’ appear tobe more “filled” than flowers of the new Begonia.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants ofBegonia×hiemalis ‘BBDRASOPI’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patentapplication No. 12/807,247, and plants of Begonia×hiemalis‘BBDRAWHIBLU’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application No.12/807,246, in flower color as plants of ‘BBDRASOPI’ and pink-coloredflowers and plants of ‘BBDRAWHIBLU’ have white and pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia×hiemalis‘BBTAM’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,800. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, plants of the newBegonia differed from plants of ‘BBTAM’ primarily in flower color asplants of ‘BBTAM’ had salmon pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘BBDRASUN’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photograph and following observationsand measurements were grown during the spring and summer in 13-cmcontainers in a shaded glass-covered greenhouse in Rijsenhout, TheNetherlands and grown under typical Begonia production practices. Duringthe production of the plants day and night temperatures ranged from 15°C. to 20° C. and maximum light levels were 18,000 lux. Plants weretwelve weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis ‘BBDRASUN’.-   Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of    Begonia×hiemalis ‘BBDRA’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,700.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 14 days at temperatures of 20°            C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 20 to 35 days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous, white in            color; plants of the new Begonia have not been observed to            form tubers.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form.—Compact, upright and mounded plant habit,            inverted triangle; freely branching with good stem and stem            base strength; flowers are fully double and abundant;            moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 20 cm to 25 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 25 cm to 30 cm.        -   Basal branch description.—Quantity: Freely basal branching            with about five to six basal branches developing per plant.            Length: About 9 cm to 13 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm to 3 cm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 138B.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Simple, alternate. Length:            About 8 cm to 9 cm. Width: About 5 cm to 6 cm. Shape:            Roughly deltoid. Apex: Broadly obtuse. Base: Cordate to            oblique. Margin: Serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Palmate. Color:            Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 131A. Developing            leaves, lower surface: Close to 139A. Fully expanded leaves,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 131C; venation, close to            131C. Petiole length: About 4 cm to 6 cm. Petiole diameter:            About 4 mm. Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 131C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Double flowers with numerous tepals            arranged in axillary cymes; typically five to six open            flowers per cyme; many cymes in flower simultaneously;            flowers positioned upright and outwardly above the foliar            plane.        -   Fragrance.—Not detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants will flower continuously            year round in the greenhouse, however plants flower earlier            and more abundantly during the summer in The Netherlands.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity,            flowers last about four weeks on the plant; flowers            persistent.        -   Cyme height.—About 6 cm to 8 cm.        -   Cyme diameter.—About 6 cm to 7 cm.        -   Flowers.—Shape: Oval; rose-like. Diameter: About 4 cm to            5 cm. Depth: About 1 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Shape: Ovate. Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm.            Diameter: About 2 cm. Color: Close to 52D.        -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Quantity: About 10 to 15 per            flower. Length: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Width: About 3 cm to            4 cm. Shape: Obovate to rounded. Apex: Rounded, obtuse.            Base: Cordate. Margin: Entire to emarginate. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: When            opening and fully opened, upper surface: Center tepals,            close to 19D; outer tepals, close to 52D. When opening and            fully opened, lower surface: Center tepals, close to 19D;            outer tepals, close to 52D.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity/arrangement: Two, opposite. Shape:            Broadly ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface:            Close to 144D and at the margins, close to 45C. Color, lower            surface: Close to 145B and at the margins, close to 45C.        -   Peduncles.—Angle: Erect to about 30° to 45° from vertical.            Length: About 4 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 4 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            144B.        -   Pedicels.—Angle: About 30° to 45° from the peduncle. Length:            About 2 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Reddish green.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None            observed.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Begonia has not been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from about 10° C. to about 35° C.

1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘BBDRASUN’ as illustrated anddescribed.